Bicycle Commuting Guide
Facilities
Facilities
| 1 in 60 workers nationwide already bicycle commutes.
This proportion of bicycle commuters could rise to 1 in 5 if better
facilities were provided. according to 1990 Harris poll |
Parking.
Knowing that their bicycles are safely parked and protected from the elements during work hours is of utmost importance to bicycle commuters.
Invest in bicycle lockers. These provide complete security as well as protection from the elements. At $600-$1,000 per 2-bike unit, these may seem like a big investment, but they are still cheap compared to the cost of subsidizing employee car parking.
Install high-quality bike racks. These are by far the most common types of bicycle parking devices. Visually, the sight of a bike rack outside a building instantly promotes a community friendly image. If you want to see your racks in use, however, it is important to keep a few things in mind. The City of Madison has design guidelines for bicycle parking racks and where to locate them. For detailed information, see our special Bike Rack section.
Allow employees to bring their bikes into the building. For many cyclists, indoor storage is the ultimate in security and convenience. Is there a locking storage closet or spare office available in your building? What about allowing employees to keep their bikes in their own offices, by their desks, or in a nearby, low-traffic hallway?
Arriving at Work Hot and Sweaty
Like all commuters, bicyclists want to be clean and refreshed at the start of the day.
Install shower and changing facilities. Adequate facilities can be retrofitted into most buildings at modest cost. Homeowners have been doing so in their basements for years. We're not talking about a state-of-the art gym, here, just a shower stall or two. Employees who jog or work out at lunchtime will also praise you.
Make arrangements with a local health club or neighboring business to allow your employees to use their showers. If installing your own doesn't seem possible or cost effective, where else in the neighborhood might there be showers that your employees could use? Perhaps you could subsidize the cost of a "shower pass" at a nearby health club for employees who pledge to bike on a regular basis.
Allow use of rest rooms for freshening up. What many potential bicycle commuters don't realize is that a shower is not always necessary. In the early morning hours when commuting typically occurs, the air is cool, and sweat evaporates. A quick sponge bath may be all that is necessary to feel clean and refreshed.
Meeting Employee Dress Code
While some commuters (usually those who don't have far to travel) won't hesitate to hop on their bikes in suits and ties, business clothes and bike clothes are not always one and the same. Many potential bicycle commuters cite the need for professional attire at the workplace as an obstacle.
Provide a place for bicycle commuters to keep a week's worth of clothes. Alternatives include spare closet areas, empty offices, standing wardrobes or lockers, or hooks on the back of the employee's office door.
| No Bike? Try a Yellow Bike! Yellow Bikes are free loaner bicycles. They are available through Budget Bicycle Center's Used Bike Showroom, 920 Regent Street. Yellow Bikes have multiple speeds and come with a lock. Anyone can "lease" a yellow bike by filling out a form and leaving a credit card imprint (which is torn up upon the bike's return). The yellow bike may be brought to Budget for routine maintenance free of charge. For more information call Budget Bicycle Center's Used Bicycle Showroom: 251-1663. |
Flat Tires, Foul Weather, Family Emergencies
In reality, flat tires are extremely rare, and it does not rain nearly as often as people believe. It may be important, however, to provide bicycle commuters with peace of mind.
Maintain a "tube library", stocked with replacement tubes for road and mountain bike tires, patch kits, tire irons, and a pump.
Offer a "Guaranteed Ride Home" program. In the event of mechanical failure, bad weather, or emergency at home, bicycle commuters may be given a ride, borrow a company car, or get their cab fare reimbursed.
But I haven't even got a bike!
Purchase some loaner bikes for employees to borrow, or arrange with a local bicycle shop for long-term rentals? That way, employees can get a feel for bicycle commuting before making a financial investment. If employees commit to bicycle commuting on a regular basis, they may buy their "loaner" from the company at a discount.
On to: Bike Racks…
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